Welding glasses and process of forming



i E. D. TILLYER WELDING GLASSES AND PROCESS OF FORMING May 8, 1951 Filed Feb. 4, 1947 QWN $235.2 13:5 IkwZmJ m 3 ONM INVENTOR. NOISSIWSNVQL-L .LNED 213d EDGAR D. TILLYEE ATT RNEY Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STA ES EPATENT OFFICE WELDING GLASSES AND PROCESS OF FORMING Edgar D. Tillyer, Southbridge, Mass., assignor to American Optical Company,

Southbridge,

Mass., a voluntary association of Massachusetts Application February 4, 1947, Serial No. 726,346 7 Claims. (01. 106-522) This invention relates to improvements in welding glasses and relates particularly to a new welding glass composition, lenses, and plates of this flame by looking down along the path of the torch but only a tiny bit of the work is seen, This flame is composed of ordinary sodium lines of an average wave length of approximately 589 millimicrons. The absorption of the light at approximately this wave length would remove this properties for selective absorption of the invisible portions of the spectrum and for reducing the visible portion of the spectrum to required amounts and, in addition thereto, to eliminate the sodium flare present during torch welding, arc welding, etc.

Another object is to provide lenses or plates embodying a glass composition of the above character whereby ordinary visibility of the work during are or torch welding or the like is greatly increased and which will simultaneously afford protection for the eyes of the individual from said ftorch welding, glass blowing and other similar operations.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following descriptionand it will be apparent that many modifications may be made in the specific glass composition given Without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. The invention therefore is not to be limited to the exact compositions given as the preferred forms are given herein only by way of illustration.

In the drawing are shown plotted curves of the visible ray transmission characteristics of four examples'of glass compositions according to the invention and one example of a prior art glass composition.

In torch welding or blowing glass with a torch there is a yellow flare around the object produced by volatilized sodium vapor. This sodium flare comes from the glass, when glass blowing, the soda dust in the atmosphere, or the flux on metal rods when welding; It is almost impossible to see the exact point of contact of the hottest part of the flame with the metal or the glass because of this flare surrounding it. Welders call this the flame which they can not see through. It is possible sometimes to see through glare and permit the work. to be seen with much greater distinctness and therefore facilitate performing welding operations, or blowing glass,

, etc.

In addition to absorption of these visible lines the ultra-violet and infra-red range of thespectrum must be absorbed to give protection to the eyes and the total light visible must be cut down so that it is not too brilliant to the operator, that is, to remove the glare from the light.

Certainwelding glasses of the prior art have ingredients in them which remove the ultraviolet, greatly reduce the infra-red and reduce the visible part of the spectrum to desired amounts. In these glasses, however, there is no appreciable increased absorption for the sodium lines or the flare around the work. This, therefore, greatly interferes with the visibility of the work. With the compositions set forth herein, the yellow flare is greatly reduced and the visibility at the point of work very greatly increased. The present invention, therefore, is directed more particularly to a homogeneous glass composition embodying all of the features set forth above.

The rare earth element neodymium and its oxide, neodymium oxide, have this desired characteristic whenincorporated in a glass composition of absorbing the yellow sodium flare. However, from a-commercial aspect, to utilizethe' pure neodymium oxide to produce this result would be too expensive. The associated rare earth oxides are so similar in chemical properties and because they occur always co-mingled together inthe raw ore as mined, it is an extremely diflicult laborious and expensive undertaking to separate them into the individual rare earths. Only by repeated fractional crystallizations can they be separated.

Although there are several minerals which contain the mixture of rare earth oxides, monazite sand is the present chief and only commercial source from which they are derived. In the monazite sand the rare earth oxides, including the neodymium oxide, occur in roughly the same relative proportions no matter from what part of the world the monazite sand is mined. Following is a table giving typical analyses of monazite sand as obtained from the worlds chief commercial sources, as given in B. S. Hopkins Chapters in the Chemistry of the Less Familiar Elements, published by Stipes Publishing Co., Champagne, Illinois, 1939:

shade and low transmission and therefore the slight changes in coloring efiect introduced by the Rare Earth Oxides are largely overshadowed by the iron content. Thus, by adding this ingredient known as Rare Earth Oxides to a welding glass in controlled amounts, the desired sodium line absorption characteristic may be imparted to the welding glass in a relatively, in-

Table A General Ceylon Nigeria India Brazil Carolina Average by H. S. Miner 3. 030. 04 0. 00-1. 43 0. 400 02 0. s0 2 0. 87-1. 13 1.200.121 1. 50-100 0.07 0. 1741. 0. 1041. 20 0. 17-0. 12 0.10 0. 45-0. 10 0.21-0.17 0. 20-0. is 0. 21 0 1. 07-0. 00 0. 03-1. 70 0. 00-1. 00 1. 4 20.12-20.20 20.20-20.10 20. 22-50. 20 2s. 50 28 In some instances small amounts of Z1102, T102 expensive, efficient and practical manner. It is and Ta2O5 are also contained in the monazite to be understood that the mixture of Rare Earth sand as impurities. Oxides is added to the glass batch in the form of Monazite sand has been chlefly valuable for a hydrate, carbonate, etc. which on ignition or its thorium content. In the refining of the mOnreaction will cause the Rare Earth Oxides to azite sand to obta n the t r most of the 30 enter into the resultant glass composition as a p ph pentoxide is r v n l vin as a homogeneous part thereof. The Rare Earth 0xresidue or by-ploduct, a ass Con t sta ides will retain substantially the same relative tially of a mixture of t e e ea X des 1n proportions unchanged from those in which they substantially unchanged form and relative prooccurred in the raw ore, monazite sand. po s a y existed 1n the Original mehazlte Following is a table showing analyses of a glass Ore. This es du s the approxlmate f0110W- having infra-red, ultra-violet and visible ray abg ly sorption characteristics and glasses of similar Table B compositions to which the ingredient known as P s Rare Earth Oxides has been added to give the by weigh additional characteristic of sodium line absorp- Cerium oxide tu Lanthanum oxide 25 Neodymium oxide 1'7 Table 0 Praesodymium oxide 5 Samarium oxide, etc 3 I 11 HI V 0 It 15 commerclally kn wn a d s ld u d the Silica sio 722 54 5, 4 5 7 name Rare Earth Ox1des, Sodium Oxide NazO) 14.7 1Q.6 19.6 10.5 10.5 In the past, it was considered to be of little "53' 3;? 3:3 3?, commercial value. However, as set forth herein, 1 011 %hd e go;go... 4.2 .are All X1 05." .7 7 it has been found that all of these rare earth 5 soo 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.2 oxides have glass forming characteristics and 51110 11 50 that if introduced into a given glass composition if tg fi t y gd such oxides W111 combine with and partially rea si fzg i l 3 4 5 6 place the normally necessary amounts of the inishg l -tcr 011:0 350 mu tial glass forming ingredients of the composition 55 1 V1s1blo Ray Transmission such as silica and calcium oxide. ThlS may be percent 14,8 13,1; 5,25 1.0 0,125 accomplished without substantially interfering o Encrgy 'llilnsllljlglsgglll 2 5 3 0 0 95 0 no 0 40 with the resultant glass melts. The alkali consodium in T a m io tent and fining agents as in conventional pracr Elliclency of bodium Linc Abtice are altered shghtly to improve the worko m ercent 11111111522 37 00 as at ability of the glass melt. Due to the above facts, Glass T 67 the neodymium oxide which is present in said I This is he total energy from a regular 200 watt gas filled lamp B Ea'lth oxldes therfaby be lntloduced running at hormol voltage measured by 11 tliormopilc. into the glass composition, with the amount of Rare Earth Oxides added being controlled acn column I is s w a g ss composition for a cording to the amount of neodymium oxide de- Welding glass of a shade designa d y t'Ihe United sired in the glass. This is accomplished by fol- States Bureau of Standards as app y lowing the usual conventional methods of the art. It has d D OII i the infra-Ted, ultra- These Rare Earth Oxides do have some small v ol and v le y regions t w in b pooloring effect when added to the glass composi- 0 ii n of he 9 mm. Wave length, that is, in abtion. However, inasmuch as applicants glass o g s dium flare. Referring to said table a compositions require substantial amounts of iron o i s ra sm ssion curve I as Shown in the drawso as to cut down the visible ray transmission to such a glass having a thickness of ma comfortable level and to absorb the infra-red would have a total energy transmission of but rays, the resultant glass has a relatively dark 2.5% and would have a total transmission in the visible region of 14.8%. However, it would transmit 18% of the sodium flare. Using the formula T wherein V represents the total percent of visible ray transmission and S the percent of sodium line transmission, the efficiency of sodium line absorption (E) for this particular composition is minus 22%. In other words, although it is an excellent glass for many purposes, it is less efiicient in cutting out the yellow sodium flare than wearing no glass but it does protect the eyes from injurious radiation.

Referring to columns II, III, IV and V and to the respective transmission curves for the compositions set forth therein, it will be noted that by adding approximately 24 parts of the ingredient known as Rare Earth Oxides to the composition of column I, reducing the silica and calcium oxide proportionately and adjusting the alkalis and fining agents (SO3Cl2As2O5) to obtain a good working glass, an excellent cut ofi may be obtained in the sodium line while maintaining substantially the same absorptive qualities in the visible and invisible regions. In these glasses, the iron content is somewhat reduced to obtain comparable shades. For example, in applicants glass, using the same amount of F8203 used in composition I, a shade somewhat darker would be obtained. This is due to the slight coloring effect of the Rare Earth Oxides.

Column II denotes a glass composition containing 24.5 parts of Rare Earth Oxides and an amount of iron necessary to obtain a shade comparable to that of composition I. It will be noted that such a glass transmits only 1.8% of the so- 1 dium flare and has an efiiciency relative to the total visible region for absorbing the sodium flare of about 87%. Column V denotes a glass composition having substantially the same iron content as the base glass composition I. Such a composition transmits somewhat less of the visible and invisible rays and cuts ofi all but 0.10% of the sodium line. It has an efiiciency for absorbing the sodium flare of approximately 86%. Glass compositions III and IV denoting shades intermediate compositions II and V have sodium line absorption eificiencies of 90% and 88% respectively.

Referring to the transmission curves of the several glass compositions set forth in Table C, it will be noted that composition I not containing the Rare Earth Oxides has less than 1% transmission in the violet band, and rapidly rises to a peak transmission of approximately 18% in the yellow band and then rapidly recedes so as to be transmitting less than 2% of the visible rays as it passes into the infra-red region at about the 750 line. At the sodium line 589 it is practically at its peak transmission, thus explaining its low efficiency in absorbing sodium flare. Where the Rare Earth Oxides have been added to such a composition as shown in curves II through V, this rapid rise and recession is interrupted by abrupt cut offs in the green at approximately the 530 mm. Wavelength and at the yellow band with almost zero transmission at the sodium line 589. Thus, such glasses while permitting maximum visual overall transmission cut ofi with maximum efliciency the sodium line flare. The examples set forth efliciencies of absorption at the sodium line of from 86 to 90%. Although it is preferred that this efficiency value be equal to 86% or better, it has been found that, for practical purposes, a

glass that is more than 75% efiicient in this respect is desirable. It should be apparent that by controlling the amount of Rare Earth Oxides added to the glass composition with suitable adjustment of the silica and calcium oxide content, glass compositions having varying efficiencies in absorbing at the sodium line can be obtained.

It is to be understood that in keeping with the invention, other crude or unrefined mixtures of the Rare Earth Oxides containing neodymium than the by-product of the first refinement of monazite ore to obtain the thoria content mentioned above may be used to obtain glasses having a relatively high efficiency in absorbing light rays at the sodium line. For example, lanthanum and cerium are becoming valuable for other purposes and are sometimes extracted from the Rare Earth Oxides. The by-product or residue after the extraction of either lanthanum or cerium would still be usable for applicants purposes. In such instances, however, trial runs would have to be made using various amounts of the Rare Earth Oxides mixture in sample glass compositions and subjectingsaid sample pieces obtained to a spectroscopic examination to determine their visible ray and sodium line transmission percentages. Then by utilizing the formula the trial piece having the desired sodium line absorption efficiency would be selected as the basis for using that particular batch of- Rare Earth Oxides.

Where the cerium has been largely removed from the Rare Earth Oxides, a mixture results having the following approximate analysis and is available commercially.

Table D Per cent Lanthanum oxide 52 Cerium oxide 2 Praesodymium oxide 2 Neodymium oxide 32 Samarium oxide 7 Thorium, yttrium oxides 2 Alaline earths 3 An example of a glass composition using such a rare earth oxide mixture would be one having substantially the following analysis:

Such a glass would have the following transmission values for a 2.3 shade as compared to those in columns I through V of Table C.

Per cent Ultra-violet ray transmission Visible ray transmission 6.1 Total energy transmission I 1.0 Sodium line transmission 1.1

At a thickness of 2.5 mm., such a glass would have an efliciency for absorbing the sodium lines ates-42sof :about 82% as measured. This'correspo'nds. t'oabsorption and decrease ofyisible transmission,-

from 1.0 part to parts of F8203 are used, depending upon' the shade desired. In order to get the proper reduction of the iron to the correct degree of ferric ferrous ratio the furnace gases may be controlled so that they are somewhat reducingand carbon, in the form of coal, graphite or some similar reducing agent may be added. Also in place of the carbon or with it as a reducing agent silicon carbide may be used. If sufficient reducing agents are added the furnace gases don't have to be reducing. The amount of these reducing agents required depend upon the type of. furnace that the glass is melted in and the type-0f flame in that furnace, that is, where there is excess oxygen or excess carbon monoxide. Where there is an excess of oxygen much more reducing agent such as graphite must be used. Where there is an excess of monoxide practically no reducing agent may be used. The number of parts by weight are given as illustrative of a very satisfactory batch. These may be varied widely as it is merely an ordinary ferrous glass batch modified to contain the Rare Earth Oxides as explained below.

The glass composition given is one in which approximately 3 to 4 parts of F8203 works best. If less F6203 is used, more CaO is preferable, if

more F6203 is used CaO may be reduced or omitted. If less Rare Earth Oxides are used more SiOz is desired and vice versa. The ratio of lNazO and K to each other may be varied but entire substitution. of-one for the other is not desirable. The total. amount of alkalies may have the usual range of variation as is common in ordinary glass batches. Too much alkali makes the glass melt better but is not as stable a glass. The addition of alumina is advantageous if enough is not dissolved from the pot in ordinary melting. A small amount of alumina makes the glass more stable and more resistant to the action of water if there is not enough pot solution or if not enough is present in the sand (SiOz).

In order to get the desired amount of Rare Earth Oxides in this composition as pointed out, some of the other essential ingredients of the glass such as the silica and calcium oxide have had to be reduced beyond the proportions normally used in ordinary glasses. If the proportion of the Rare Earth Oxides is increased beyond the approximate 24-parts given in the examples, then the silica must accordingly be reduced below the approximate 54 parts by weight mentioned in these preferred compositions. With respect to the alkalies the soda and the potash, the total of these as given, is about 15 parts which makes a good working glass. Either may be increased at the expense of the other one without changing the effectiveness of the glass but does interfere a little with the Working of the glass composition. In fact, the total of the two alkalies may be changed from either 10 to 18 parts but the-glass will not be quite as nice a working glass in the furnace.

The use of soft coal instead of graphite as a reducing agent sometimes improves the glass a little as it contains a little sulphur which apparently becomes advantageous by possibly formin'g: a small amount of an iron sulphide in'the glass; too much produces too yellow: a tint. The iron sulphide seems to improve the infra-red and ultra-violet absorption. to some extent.

The use of rare earth oxides and the modification of the base' composition, to enable the use of said ingredientas set forth above,'ena bles' the production of a glass which in use has desirableabsorption as to the invisible and visibleportions of the spectrum as well as elimination of sodium flare and enablesthe accomplishing,

of said' results in a simple, efficient, and extremely inexpensive manner'as compared with known prior art methods.

The-glasscompositions given above are the preferred compositionsbut glass compositions having sodium line absorption efficiencies greater than will result. from fusing together the following Parts by weight Silica (S102) approximately 50 to 72 Alkali (NZzO-l-KtO) approximately l0to 18 Calcium oxide (CaO') approximately 1to 10' Fining' agents such as S03, C12, Na2SO4, NaCL AS205;10I"Sb205' approximately 0 to 3' Iron .oxide as FezOaapproximately 1 to 10 Rare Earth Oxides approximately 10 to30 It is to bra-understood thata conventional-small amount of alumina. may be added to the above batch before melting. in addition to the small amount inherently present in the sand orsolution of the ingredients of the pot.

Preferably, the silica and Rare Earth Oxides From the foregoing description it will be-seen.

that simple, efficient, and economical means have been provided for accomplishing all of the objects and advantages of the invention.

Having described my invention, I. claim:

1. A protective glass of the character described consisting essentially of a silica-soda-potashlime base containing from 1 to 10 percent by weight of'iron oxide and av mixture of rareearth oxides as derived from monazite sand and including neodymium in. proportion sufficient that it'constitute from approximately 2 to 5 per cent of the glass, the silica content comprising at least half the glass by Weight and said mixture of rare earth oxides and, silica together constituting fromapproximately 60 to per cent by weight of the-glass, and the soda, potash and lime constituting substantially the balance, said glass absorbing substantially all radiations in the ultra-violet-andinfra-red regions of the spectrum and. in the visible region having its maximum transmission on opposed sides of the sodium line,. with substantially no transmission at said sodium. line.

2. A protective glass of the character described. consistingessentially of asilica-soda-potash-limeultra-violet radiations shorter than 350 millimeters, having its maximum transmission in the visible region on opposed sides of the sodium line, with substantially no transmission at the sodium 'line, said glass having a total transmission in said visible region of less than 15% with efiiciency for absorbing at the sodium line being greater than 75 per cent, and said glass having a total energy transmission of less than 4 per cent.

3, An ultra-violet and infra-red absorbing glass having its greatest amount of transmission in the visible region on opposed sides of the sodium line, with substantially no transmission at said line, said glass consisting of a soda-potash-lime-silica base containing iron oxides and a mixture of rare earth oxides including neodymium oxide in its composition, said iron oxides comprising from about 1 to 10% by weight of the glass, the silica comprising at least half by weight of the glass and the rare earth oxides together with the silica from about 60 to 85% of theglass and the soda, potash and lime constituting the balance, the proportion of neodymium oxide being sumcient to provide said glass with an efficiency for absorbing at the sodium line of in excess of 75%.

4. An infra-red and ultra-violet absorbing glass having its greatest transmission in the visible region and on opposed sides of the sodium line, with substantially complete absorption at said line, and consisting substantially of the following approximate parts by weight:

5. An infra-red and ultra-violet absonbing glass having its greatest transmission in the visible region and on opposed sides of the sodium line, with substantially complete absorption at said line, and consisting of the following approximate parts by weight:

Silica. 54

Sodium oxide 10 Potassium oxide 5 Calcium oxide 2 Iron oxides 1 to p and A mixture of rare earth oxides as derived from monazite sand and containin approximately 17% by weight of neodymium oxide- 24 6. An infra-red and ultra-violet absorbing glass having its greatest transmission in the 10 visible region and on opposed sides of the sodium line, with substantially complete absorption at said line, and consisting of the following approximate parts by weight:

Silica 54 Sodium oxide 10 Potassium oxide 5 Calcium oxide 2 Iron oxides 1 to 10 7. In the process of forming a colored infrared and ultra-violet absorbing glass having a controlled efiiciency for absorbing radiations at the sodium line, the steps of adding to a silica, soda, potash, lime base batch from 1 to 10 per cent by weight of iron oxides and a suificient amount of a mixture of rare earth oxides containing neodymium oxide to introduce from approximately 2 to 5% by weight of said neodymium oxide to the glass, varying the proportions of the silica between about 50 and about 72%, the lime betweenabout 1 and about 10%, and the potash and soda between about 10 and 18%, according to the proportions of the mixture of rare earth oxides added to the batch, said mixture having glass forming characteristics similar to said ingredients of the base batch, adding the iron oxides in proportion according to the amount of transmission in the visible region of the spectrum desired and the amount of neodymium oxides in proportion according to the desired efiiciency for absorbing at the sodium line, and melting said batch while subjecting it to a reducing agent to cause the iron oxides to assume ferric and ferrous forms to provide infra-red and ultra-violet absorbing characteristics whereby the batch will be fused into a glass of the desired properties.

EDGAR D. TILLYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany 1933 

